Can carton cap

ABSTRACT

A hat is made from a can carton that has a pattern marked on it. The pattern is cut out and the hat is assembled from the pieces. An 18 or 24 can carton can be used to make the brim of the hat and 12 and 18 can cartons can be used to make the crown. Hats of various shapes and styles can be made from the cartons.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a can carton having a pattern printedthereon for constructing a hat therefrom, to a method of constructing ahat using a can carton, and to a hat constructed from a can carton. Inparticular, it relates to 12, 18, and 24 can cartons from which hats canbe made using patterns marked on the inside of the carton.

[0002] At parties and bars where beer and/or soft drinks are imbibed, itis desirable to have unique and attention-grabbing hats, tee shirts, andother items to help “break the ice,” facilitate conversation, and helppeople to get acquainted. While the host can provide such items, theyare usually mass-produced so that everyone has an identical item. Assuch, they are only marginally effective at promoting socialinteractions.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] I have discovered that unique hats can be made from can cartonsusing a pattern that can be printed on the carton. Each hat can displaythe logo on the carton, so each hat can be different depending upon thetype of product that was in the carton. In addition, a variety ofdifferent types of hats can be made from the cartons. As a result, thehats make it easy to start a conversation with the wearer, as one needonly comment on the hat or ask the wearer if he or she likes the branddisplayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a 24 can carton, as manufactured beforegluing, having a pattern printed thereon.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the carton of FIG. 1 after it has beenassembled, emptied, cut along line A-A, and laid flat.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flattened-out 18 can carton after ithas been assembled, emptied, cut along line B-B, and laid flat.

[0007]FIG. 4 is a plan view of a 12 can carton, as manufactured beforegluing, having a pattern printed thereon.

[0008]FIG. 5 is a plan view of an 18 can carton, as manufactured beforegluing, having a pattern printed thereon.

[0009]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of half of a vertically-cut 12 cancarton.

[0010]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a flattened-out 24 can carton having apattern printed thereon.

[0011]FIG. 8 is an isometric view showing a pattern being assembled intothe crown of a hat.

[0012]FIG. 9 is a cross-section through the brim of a hat.

[0013]FIG. 10 is an exploded isometric side view showing the assembly ofa hat.

[0014]FIG. 11 is a view looking up at the bottom of a hat.

[0015]FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an assembled hat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Any type of can carton can be used in this invention. Can cartonsare typically made of cardboard or heavy paper, but other similar typesof materials, such as plastic, could also be used. The can carton canhold beer, soda pop, fruit juices, tea, flavored and non-flavored water,or energy drinks. Can cartons typically hold 12, 18, or 24 cans, each ofwhich holds 12 oz of fluid, but cartons holding other numbers of cans orcan of other sizes could also be used. The following table gives thedimensions currently used for 12, 18, and 24 can cartons: [t1] SizeHeight (inches) Length (inches) Width (inches) 12 can  7¾ 10½ 4¾ 18 can 7¾ 15½ 4¾ 24 can 10½ 15½ 4¾

[0017] Thus, for example, the top and bottom of a 12 can carton measure4¾×7¾ inches, the front and back sides measure 4¾×10½ inches, and theother 2 sides measure 4¾×7{fraction (34)}. Of course, can cartondimensions can change and this invention would still be application tocartons of other dimensions.

[0018] A pattern can be printed on the carton which shows where to cutand fold the carton in order to construct various types of hats, where“hat” is intended to mean any type of apparel worn on the head.Preferably, the pattern is printed on the inside of the carton, but itcould also be printed on the outside of the carton.

[0019] The accompanying drawings show how a hat can be made using twocan cartons, a 24 can carton and either a 12 can carton, an 18 cancarton, or another 24 can carton. In FIGS. 1 and 2, can carton 1 haspatterns 2 printed on it. Usually, patterns 2 will be printed on theinside of the carton, but some or all of the patterns could be printedon the outside of the carton. Instead of printing the patterns on thecartons, the patterns could be marked on the cartons by perforations, orby stamps or dies in the shape of the patterns, which also cut thepatterns out, or by some other means.

[0020] Portions 3, 4, and 5 of carton 1 form a top, sides, and a bottomof the assembled carton, where the “top” of the carton has handle 6 onit and is the uppermost part of the carton when the designs and writingon the carton are in an upright position. Instructions printed on thecarton (not shown) tell the reader to cut along the lines of pattern 1,forming three parts, an upper brim 7 and a lower brim 8, which has twoparts, a front lower brim 8F and a back lower brim 8B. Alternatively, byusing another 24 can carton, upper brim 7 can be duplicated and used toform a single piece lower brim 8. Logo plate 9 is also printed on carton1. These patterns have been positioned on the carton so that themanufacturer's carton designs are best displayed on the hat when the hatis assembled. Logo plate 9, for example, is positioned so that themanufacturer's logo plate appears on the opposite side.

[0021] As another alternative, the upper and lower brims can be madefrom two 18 can cartons. FIG. 3 shows an 18 can carton 10 that has beencut at 11 (line B-B) and then laid flat. A pattern 12 for an upper orlower brim 13 has been printed on the inside of the carton.

[0022] Referring now also to FIG. 4, 12 can carton 14 has pattern 15printed on it and, in FIG. 5, 18 can carton 16 has patterns 17 printedon it. After cartons 14 and 16 have been assembled, filled with cans,and emptied, they are cut along the dotted lines in FIGS. 4 and 5 (i.e.,the cartons are cut vertically through the top, sides, and bottom). Thisforms parts from the ends of the cartons that are identical except fordesigns and writing on the cartons. Each of these parts will form crown18, as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, crown 18 has a top 19, sides 20, andtabs 21 extending at a 90° to sides 20. (See FIGS. 4 and 5 for thepositions of top 19, sides 20 and tabs 21 on the laid out carton.) Tabs21 preferably extend outward about ¾ to about 2 inches from sides 20.

[0023]FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 2 in that it shows a 24 can carton 22laid flat, but the pattern 23 printed thereon is for making a crown,which can be larger or smaller than the crowns shown in FIG. 6. Thepattern is cut along the dotted lines, sides 24 are folded upward at90°, and tabs 25 are glued, stapled, or otherwise fixed to sides 24.Tabs 26 are cut where the dotted lines indicate and are folded at 90° tosides 24. FIG. 8 shows the cut-out pattern 23 (inverted) of FIG. 7 inthe process of being assembled into a crown. Tabs 25 are attached tosides 24 and tabs 26 will slide in between the upper brim and the lowerbrim.

[0024] In order to be able to form the brim of the hat in a desiredshape, it is preferably to reinforce the brim with a material that willhold the brim in position after it has been shaped. This can beaccomplished in several ways. Referring to FIG. 9, duck tape 27 has bewrapped over wire 28. Other materials, such as cloth, plastic, orrubber, could also be used instead of duck tape 27. Wire 28 can besupplied with the carton or a stiff wire, such as a coat hanger wire,can be used. Duck tape 27 and tabs 26 of crown 18 are inserted inbetween upper brim 7 and lower brim 8. Upper brim 7, lower brim 8, andduck tape 27 are stapled together with staples 29.

[0025] As another alternative, in FIG. 10, a piece of wire mesh 30 ispositioned in between upper brim 7 and lower brim pieces 8F and 8B. Tabs21 are also positioned in between upper brim 7 and lower brim pieces 8Fand 8B, either above or below wire mesh 30. Other materials that can bebent and will then retain their shape, such as sheet metal or aluminumsheet, could also be used. Upper brim 7, wire mesh 30, and lower brimpieces 8F and 8B are then fixed together using either staples, glue,single or double sided tape, stitching, or other means. Care is taken toavoid sealing upper brim 7 and lower brim pieces 8F and 8B near crown18, so that tabs 21 can slide in between upper brim 7 and lower brimpieces 8F and 8B. This permits sides 20 of crown 18 to move outward toaccommodate the shape of a person's head. FIG. 11 shows how sides 20 canmove outward as tabs 21 slide in between upper brim 7 and lower brimpieces 8F and 8B. Also, in FIG. 11 chin strap 31 has been attached tothe underside of lower brim 8. This can be accomplished, for example,using glue, staples, or tape, or other suitable means, or by insertingthe ends through holes in the brim and tying knots at the ends. Chinstrap 31 fits under the chin of the wearer of the hat to help hold thehat on his head, or around the neck of the wearer if the hat is worn onhis shoulders.

[0026] In FIG. 12, manufacturer's logo plate 32 is glued, stapled, orotherwise attached to the front of completed hat 33.

[0027] While the drawings show one style of hat, it will be appreciatedthat patterns can also be designed for other styles of hats, such as abaseball cap, a tri-corner hat, a stovepipe hat, a top hat, Santa Claushat, a graduation cap, or a beret.

1. A can carton package comprising at least one can carton having markedthereon at least one pattern that can be cut out to form at least onepattern piece that can be made into a hat:
 2. A can carton packageaccording to claim 1 wherein said pattern includes a pattern for a brimand a crown.
 3. A can carton package according to claim 2 wherein saidpattern for said brim is marked on a 24 can carton and said pattern forsaid crown is marked on a 12 can carton or an 18 can carton.
 4. A cancarton package according to claim 2 wherein said pattern for said brimhas an upper brim and a lower brim.
 5. A can carton package according toclaim 4 including wire mesh that can be sandwiched between said upperbrim and said lower brim.
 6. A can carton package according to claim 2wherein said crown is formed from one half of a 12 can carton or onethird of an 18 can carton.
 7. A can carton package according to claim 2including a wire to hold said brim in a desired shape.
 8. A can cartonpackage according to claim 1 including a chin strap attachable to saidbrim.
 9. A can carton package according to claim 1 including a patternfor cutting out a logo plate from a can carton.
 10. A can carton packageaccording to claim 1 wherein said can cartons are selected from thegroup consisting of 12 can cartons about 7¾ inches high, about 10½inches long, and about 4¾ inches wide, 18 can cartons about 7¾ incheshigh, about 15½ inches long, and about 4¾ inches wide, and 24 cancartons about 10½ inches high, about 15½ inches long, and about 4¾inches wide.
 11. A can carton package according to claim 1 wherein saidpattern is marked by a cutting tool as it cuts said pattern from acarton.
 12. Pattern pieces cut from can cartons in a can carton packageaccording to claim
 1. 13. A method of making a hat comprising cuttingout patterns on can cartons from a can carton package according to claim1 and assembling said patterns.
 14. A hat made according to the methodof claim
 13. 15. A can carton package comprising can cartons selectedfrom the group consisting of 12 can cartons, 18 can cartons, and 24 cancartons, and mixtures thereof, said can cartons having marked thereonpatterns for making a hat that has a brim and a crown.
 16. Patternpieces cut from can cartons in a can carton package according to claim15.
 17. A method of making a hat comprising cutting out patterns on cancartons from a can carton package according to claim 15 and assemblingsaid patterns.
 18. A can carton assembly comprising (A) a can cartonselected from the group consisting of 18 can cartons and 24 can cartons,having a pattern for forming the brim of a hat is marked thereon; and(B) a can carton selected from the group consisting of 12 can cartonsand 18 can cartons, having a pattern marked thereon for forming a crownfor a hat.
 19. A method of making a hat having a brim and a crowncomprising cutting out the patterns on can cartons in a can cartonpackage according to claim 18 and assembling said patterns.
 20. A hatmade according to the method of claim 19.